Change table

ABSTRACT

A change table is provided having a top surface for supporting an infant, a proximate end and a distal end. Rails are provided running along a bottom surface of the body. A connection assembly attachable to a first crib rail of a crib is pivotally and slidably connected to the rails allowing the connection assembly to be slid between the proximate end and the distal end of the body of the change table. To use the change table, the connection assembly is connected to a crib rail on a first side of a crib and the proximate end positioned adjacent the connection assembly with the distal end resting on a crib rail on a second side of the crib. To store the change table, the distal end is positioned adjacent the connection assembly and then the body is pivoted to lie against the first side of the crib.

This invention is in the field of change table attachments for infants and more particularly for a change table that is attachable to an infant crib.

BACKGROUND

Change tables for infants are common pieces of furniture for people with infants. They are commonly stand-alone pieces of furniture designed especially to allow a parent to change an infant's diaper. They typically consist of a flat platform that is positioned above the floor at such a height that changing an infant's diaper using the change table is fairly comfortable, without requiring the person doing the changing to bend over too much. They are often solidly built to provide a safe and secure platform to place an IS infant on and it is typical for some people to use the change tables well into a child's second year. Although the exact designs vary, often these change tables have a number of shelves for storage and a relatively thin waterproof pad that is used to cover the platform and give the infant something to lie on.

Although stand-alone change tables are common, many people do not have the space in the child's room for another piece of stand alone furniture or even if they might have the space, they may not want to use the space for such a large piece of furniture with such a limited use. To address this there are a number of change table attachments or combinations that do not take up the space of a stand-alone change table or else allow the change table to also function as some other type of furniture. An example of one of these combination/attachment change tables is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,070 to Longenecker et al.

However, while it is usually pretty easy to make a solid stand-alone change table, these combinations often suffer from not being as sturdy or secure as their stand-alone counterparts. One popular combination is the combination dresser/change table where the top of the change table folds out to provide a surface to change an infant on. However, these are often not as stable as a purpose built change table because when the top is flipped out the dresser can be unbalanced if the weight of the infant is placed on the outer edge of the fold down top.

Additionally, the previous change table attachments often are designed to attach to another piece of furniture a person may not have.

Not only must an attachment/combination change table be space efficient, easy to attach/use and attachable to some piece of furniture a parent will already have, it must be sufficiently stable and secure to allow an infant to be safely placed on it. There is therefore a need to provide a baby change table that does not take up the space of a stand alone change table yet is still sufficiently sturdy to be safely used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a change table attachment for a crib that addresses problems in the prior art.

In a first aspect, a change table is provided. The change table comprises: a body having a top surface for supporting an infant, a bottom surface, a proximate end and a distal end; at least one rail provided on the bottom surface of the body and running substantially from the proximate end of the body to substantially the distal end of the body; a connection assembly having a base portion connectable to a first crib rail of a crib, the connection assembly pivotally and slidably connected to the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body, wherein the connection assembly can be slid from substantially the proximate end of the body along the at least one rail to substantially the distal end of the body; and a retaining projection located at the distal end of the body and extending downwards, the retaining projection preventing the distal end of the body from sliding towards the connection assembly when the connection assembly is connected to a first crib rail of a crib and the distal end of the body is laid on a second crib rail of the crib with the retaining projection positioned past the second crib rail and extending below a top surface of the second crib rail.

In a second aspect, a change table is provided. The change table comprises: a body having a top surface for supporting an infant, a bottom surface, a proximate end and a distal end; at least one rail provided on the bottom surface of the body and running substantially from the proximate end of the body to substantially the distal end of the body; and a connection assembly having a clamping portion for rigidly connecting the connection assembly to a first crib rail of a crib and at least one rail guide pivotally attached to the clamping portion, the at least one rail guide mating with the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body so that the at least one rail guide is slidably connected to the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body, wherein when the connection assembly is connected to a first crib rail of a crib, the at least one rail guide pivots around an axis running substantially parallel to the first crib rail of the crib.

In a third aspect, a method of storing a change table after use is provided. The method comprises: providing a change table having a body and a connection assembly, the body having a top surface for supporting an infant, a bottom surface, a proximate end and a distal end, the connection assembly attachable to a first crib rail of a crib and pivotally and slidably connected to the bottom surface of the body such that the connection assembly can be slid between substantially the proximate end of the body and substantially the distal end of the body; attaching the connection assembly to the first crib rail on a first side of the crib; sliding the body relative to the connection assembly so that the connection assembly is positioned at substantially the proximate end of the body; supporting the distal end of the body on a second crib rail on a second side of the crib; sliding the body relative to the connection assembly so that the connection assembly is positioned at substantially the distal end of the body; and pivoting the body relative to the connection assembly so that the body is positioned adjacent the first side of the crib.

In an aspect a change table attachable to a crib is provided. The change table has a proximate end, a distal end and a top surface suitable for placing an infant in order to change the infant's diaper. A pair of rails are provided on a bottom surface of the change table and are placed in rail guides in a connection assembly that is made to be securely attachable to a first crib rail of a crib. The change table can slide along the rails relative to the connection assembly as well as pivoting relative to the connection assembly. A retaining projection is provided on the far end of the change table to prevent the distal end from sliding off of a second crib rail of the crib.

The connection assembly is securely attachable to the first crib rail, so that the connection assembly can not be removed from the first crib rail unless it is purposely unfastened from the first crib rail.

Once the connection assembly is fastened to the first crib rail, the change table can be placed in either a changing position or a storage position. In the changing position, the change table is slid along the rails until the connection assembly is positioned close to the near end of the change table and the other or far end of the change table is positioned near enough to the second crib rail of the crib that the distal end of the change table can rest on the second crib rail on the far side of the change table. With the change table in the changing position, the connection assembly prevents the change table from moving from side to side, preventing the change table from falling off of the crib rails of the crib.

In the storage position, the distal end of the change table is pivoted off the second crib rail of the crib and the change table is slid by the rails relative to the connection assembly until the far end of the change table is positioned near the connection assembly. The change table is then pivoted relative to the connection assembly until it rests with the proximate end of the change table positioned towards the floor with the change table positioned substantially parallel to the side of the crib.

In this manner, the change table can be put into a changing position in order to change and infant. When the infant has been changed, the change table can then be placed in a storage position substantially reducing the amount of space it takes up until it is needed for changing an infant again.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a change table;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the change table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a change table with a rail connecting flange in a second aspect;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the change table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the change table of FIG. 1 attached to a crib and in a changing position; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the change table of FIG. 1 attached to a crib and in a storage position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is perspective illustration of a change table 10. The change table 10 has a body 11 having a proximate end 12, a distal end 14 and a top surface 15. The top surface 15 is used to hold the infant while the infant is being changed. In one aspect, the top surface 15 has curved edges 16, 18 to lessen the chance that an infant, placed on the top surface 15 of the change table 10, can roll off. In an aspect, straps 20 are provided to secure an infant in place when he or she is placed on the top surface 15 of the body 11 of the change table 10. Preferably, a pad (not shown) is placed on the top surface 15 of the change table 10 to cushion the infant when he or she is placed on the top surface 15 of the change table 10 and a cover (not show) is used to cover both the top surface 15 and the pad.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of a bottom surface 30 of the body 11 of the change table 10. A pair of rails 32, 34 are provided on the bottom surface 30 of the body 11. At the distal end 14 of the body 11 a retaining projection 35 is provided extending downwards from the bottom surface 30 of the body 11 of the change table 10. The retaining projection 35 in one aspect forms one side of a channel 36 attached to a bottom surface 30 of the body 11 of the change table 10 with the channel 36 being sized to accept a crib rail (not shown).

FIG. 3 illustrates a second aspect of change table 110 having a second retaining projection 135 extending downwards. The second retaining projection 135 forms a side of a channel 136 connected to the distal end 14 of the body 11 of the change table 110 and sized to accept a crib rail (not shown). The second connection flange 135 allows the distal end 14 of the body 11 of the change table 110 to be secured to a crib rail that is positioned higher than the top surface 15 of the body 11 of the change table 110.

FIG. 4 illustrates an end view of the change table 10 from the proximate end 12. A connection assembly 50 is provided to securely attach the change table 10 to a crib (not shown). The connection assembly 50 comprises a base portion 52, a clamping portion 54, fastening devices 56 and a pair of rail guides 62, 64. The clamping portion 54 uses the pair of fastening device 56 (in this case screws are illustrated) to clamp the clamping portion 54 and the base portion 52 against a crib rail and slats of a crib. The pair of rail guides 62, 64 are pivotally attached to the base portion 52 and are adapted so that the rails 32, 34 slide in the rail guides 62, 64 and the change table 10 can pivot at the rail guides 62, 64 relative to the base portion 52.

Rails 32, 34 are made up of members 41, 42, respectively. Connected to member 41 are a first flange 43 and a second flange 44 oriented substantially perpendicular to the member 41. A first flange 45 and a second flange 46 are connected substantially perpendicular to member 42. Rail guide 62 mates with the first flange 43, second flange 44 and member 41 such that the rail guide 62 cannot be pulled off of rail 32. Rail guide 64 mates with the first flange 45, second flange 46 and member 42 such that the rail guide 64 cannot be pulled off of rail 34.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the change table 10 attached to a crib 210 and in a changing position. The connection assembly 50 attaches the proximate end 12 of the change table 10 securely to a first crib rail 220 of the crib 210. The fastening devices 56 are tightened so that the first rail 220 is held securely between the clamping portion 54 and the base portion 52.

To place the change table 10 in the changing position, the rails 32, 34 on the bottom surface 15 of the body 11 of the change table 10 are slid in the rail guides 62, 64 until the proximate end 12 of the body 11 is positioned in place near the first crib rail 220 of the crib 210 and then the distal end 14 of the body 11 of the change table 10 is pivoted into place on the second crib rail 220 so that the retaining projection 35 is placed on a far side of a second crib rail 230 with the retaining projection 35 extending below a top surface 15 of the second crib rail 230 with the second crib rail 230 placed in the channel 36. The retaining projection 35 prevents the distal end 14 of the body 11 of the change table 10 from sliding towards the connection assembly 50 and off of the second crib rail 230.

In this manner, the change table 210 is connected at the proximate end 12 to the first crib rail 220, firmly holding the change table 10 perpendicular to the first crib rail 220 and preventing the body 11 of the change table 10 moving from side to side.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the crib 210 with the change table 10 attached to the crib 210 and in a storage position. The change table 10 is positioned so that it is substantially parallel to the first crib rail 220 and a first side 240 of the crib 210. In the storage position, rails 32, 34 have been slid in the rail guides 62, 64 until the connection assembly 50 is position near the distal end 12 of the change table 10 and the change table 10 is pivoted relative to the connection assembly 50 so that the proximate end 12 of the body 11 of the change table 10 is positioned towards a floor.

In this manner, the change table 10 can be moved into a changing position with the change table 10 positioned over the crib 210. The infant can then be placed on the top surface 15 of the change table 10 so that the infant can be changed. When the infant has been changed and taken off the change table 10, the distal end 14 of the body 11 of the change table 10 can be pivoted up removing the second rail 230 from the channel 36 of the connection flange 35. The rails 32, 34 of the change table 10 can then be slid in the rail guides 62, 64 until the distal end 14 of the body 11 of the change table is positioned near the connection assembly 50. The body 11 of the change table 10 is then pivoted relative to the connection assembly 50 until the body 11 of the change table 10 is positioned in a storage position substantially parallel to the first crib rail 220 and first side 240 of the crib 210 and therefore out of the way.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention. 

1. A change table comprising: a body having a top surface for supporting an infant, a bottom surface, a proximate end and a distal end; at least one rail provided on the bottom surface of the body and running substantially from the proximate end of the body to substantially the distal end of the body; a connection assembly having a base portion connectable to a first crib rail of a crib, the connection assembly pivotally and slidably connected to the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body, wherein the connection assembly can be slid from substantially the proximate end of the body along the at least one rail to substantially the distal end of the body; and a retaining projection located at the distal end of the body and extending downwards, the retaining projection preventing the distal end of the body from sliding towards the connection assembly when the connection assembly is connected to a first crib rail of a crib and the distal end of the body is laid on a second crib rail of the crib with the retaining projection positioned past the second crib rail and extending below a top surface of the second crib rail.
 2. The change table of claim 1 wherein the connection assembly comprises at least one rail guide pivotally attached to the clamping portion, the at least one rail guide mating with the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body so that the at least one rail guide is slidably connected to the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body.
 3. The change table of claim 2 wherein the connection assembly is rigidly connectable to a first crib rail of a crib.
 4. The change table of claim 2 wherein when the connection assembly is connected to a first crib rail of a crib, the at least one rail guide pivots around an axis running substantially parallel to the first crib rail of the crib.
 5. The change table of claim 1 wherein the retaining projection is a portion of a channel, the channel sized to accept a crib rail of a crib.
 6. The change table of claim 5 wherein the channel is provided on the bottom surface of the body.
 7. The change table of claim 1 wherein the retaining projection is provided adjacent the distal end of the body.
 8. The change table of claim 1 wherein the top surface of the body has edges curving upwards.
 9. The change table of claim 1 further comprising straps to secure an infant to the top surface.
 10. The change table of claim 2 wherein the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body comprises a member and at least one flange orientated substantially perpendicular to the member and wherein the at least one rail guide mates to the at least one flange and the member of the at least one rail such that the at least one flange prevents the at least one rail guide from being pulled off of the member.
 11. A change table comprising: a body having a top surface for supporting an infant, a bottom surface, a proximate end and a distal end; at least one rail provided on the bottom surface of the body and running substantially from the proximate end of the body to substantially the distal end of the body; and a connection assembly having a clamping portion for rigidly connecting the connection assembly to a first crib rail of a crib and at least one rail guide pivotally attached to the clamping portion, the at least one rail guide mating with the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body so that the at least one rail guide is slidably connected to the at least one rail on the bottom surface of the body, wherein when the connection assembly is connected to a first crib rail of a crib, the at least one rail guide pivots around an axis running substantially parallel to the first crib rail of the crib.
 12. The change table of claim 11 further comprising a retaining projection located at the distal end of the body and extending downwards, the retaining projection preventing the distal end of the body from sliding towards the connection assembly when the connection assembly is connected to a first crib rail of a crib and the distal end of the body is laid on a second crib rail of the crib with the retaining projection positioned past the second crib rail and extending below a top surface of the second crib rail.
 13. The change table of claim 11 wherein the retaining projection is a portion of a channel, the channel sized to accept a crib rail of a crib.
 14. A method of storing a change table after use, the method comprising: providing a change table having a body and a connection assembly, the body having a top surface for supporting an infant, a bottom surface, a proximate end and a distal end, the connection assembly attachable to a first crib rail of a crib and pivotally and slidably connected to the bottom surface of the body such that the connection assembly can be slid between substantially the proximate end of the body and substantially the distal end of the body; attaching the connection assembly to the first crib rail on a first side of the crib; sliding the body relative to the connection assembly so that the connection assembly is positioned at substantially the proximate end of the body; supporting the distal end of the body on a second crib rail on a second side of the crib; sliding the body relative to the connection assembly so that the connection assembly is positioned at substantially the distal end of the body; and pivoting the body relative to the connection assembly so that the body is positioned adjacent the first side of the crib. 